No. 4.] BIRDS ON THE FARM. Ill 



TWO TEARS WITH THE BIRDS ON A FARM. 



BY EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH, ORXITHOLOGIST TO THE BOARD. 



Some investigations made, under the auspices of this 

 Board, in the last 3 ears of the nineteentli century gave you 

 abundant evidence of the usefulness of the smaller land birds 

 in orchard and woodland ; but no opportunity oftered to 

 study the influence exerted by birds on small fruit and 

 vegetable groAving until the year 1900. 



This lecture is, mainly, the result of observations made by 

 your ornithologist while at work on the land, and, much of 

 the time, in his kitchen garden. The facts ascertained are 

 such as any other observing farmer might gather, were he 

 familiar with our common birds. The observations of 

 which this lecture constitutes a partial record were begun in 

 July, 1900, and have been continued up to a very recent 

 date. 



Since it is my intention to pursue these investigations 

 further in the same field for the benefit of this Board, it will 

 be well first briefly to describe the geographical position of 

 the farm, climate, soil, flora and fauna. The place is situ- 

 ated in Wareham, Mass., on the north bank of the Agawam 

 River, near its junction Avith the Wankinco. These two 

 rivers, uniting here, form the Wareham River, a tidal 

 stream. The salt water flows for some distance up each of 

 these tributaries, and returning empties into Buzzard's Bay, 

 three miles below. 



The farm was selected as one lying directly in the track 

 of both migrating land birds and water birds, and is well 

 adapted to sustain a large and varied bu'd population. It 

 lies near the head of Buzzard's Bay, in or near the line of 

 flight of those migrating sea and shore birds which come up 

 along the waters or shores of Long Island Sound in their 



